Do you obsess over how much energy your car's engine creates, and worry about the fuel being destroyed for your driving pleasure? (Why are you reading this magazine?) Actually, one of this universe's immutable laws is that energy can never be created or destroyed. But it can change forms. Most cars lug around a tankful of potential energy disguised as gasoline (or diesel, E85, propane, etc.). Fed into a typical engine, the fuel is converted to a lot of waste heat and vibration energies, during what's conceded in the auto biz as a hopelessly energy-inefficient but necessary-evil process. Oh, and the process produces some usable mechanical energy, too.

The gas engine is the people's choice in the U.S., but it only goes so far in the grand scheme of weaning humans off fossil fuels. Battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles may be the darlings of the future, but the auto industry has to take innumerable baby steps first. And stepping in unison are five efficiency-minded diesel and gas-electric hybrid contestants collected for the Big Test of Eco Cars, version 1.

Each had to have a base price starting around $25K, generally be considered a small car, and possess a unique take on a non-plug-in powertrain designed to avoid frittering away fuel. We have the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel, the first domestic diesel passenger car offered since the 1987 Ford Escort/Mercury Lynx. Charging it head-on is the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, one of the most successful diesel cars of our times sold Stateside. The Jetta Hybrid and Honda Civic Hybrid aim for their own slices of the growing gasoline-electric pie. Finally, the Toyota Prius. Where Prii go, competing hybrids keep a close eye. The EPA claims the average fuel economy of all 2013 model-year light passenger vehicles reaches 23 mpg. The straight mean of this group's EPA combined fuel economy ratings is 41 mpg.

For this comparison, we're not going to line up the cars' EPA numbers and call it a day. That would be very much misinformed. Unlike the five cars' powertrains, the premise here is simple: Which is most adept at delivering on its energy-conscious promise, won't break the bank to operate, and is least likely to hit you with buyer's remorse?

Ride and Handling

No driver dismounted either Jetta without remarking on their appropriately weighted steering, reassuring suspension compliance (even with the TDI's rear torsion beam), sharp chassis reflexes, and the overall sensation of dynamic eagerness imbued into the Jetta DNA. The VWs share the shortest wheelbase of the five cars, but after driving them, you'd swear they were the longest. That's how secure and controlled the two rode.The Civic moves like you'd expect from a lightweight car -- it's the leanest by 259 pounds over the second-lightest Jetta TDI. The steering predictably ramps effort up and down, but there's a lot of isolation from the front wheels. The car is engaging initially when diving into a curve, and then lack of grip and power stunts any whiff of "fun" driving (see also: highest weight-to-power ratio). No one found the ride quality objectionable, yet it just wouldn't have that integral Honda-ness to it without noticeable tire noise and suspension-impact thwacks.

Evaluators with previous Prius experience got a chuckle out of the Barcelona Red tester. Its $3699 Plus Performance Package adds 17-inch forged wheels, sport springs, a rear anti-roll bar, and even a body kit. In return, the ride goes from apathetic to uncharacteristically sporty, unafraid to communicate even the slightest road shock into the noisy cabin. Handling is enhanced by reduced pitch and roll and better cling to the road. Steering remains a monotonous task, but the tool is accurate. We're attributing our weirdly pleasant reaction to the novelty of a sporting Prius.

Its small-overlap Good rating from the IIHS makes the Civic the sole Top Safety Pick+

We've been pleased with the civilized ride of other Cruzes, but there's something off with the Diesel model. It still sets the standard for interior noise attenuation. The car has a nondescript persona and is softer than we remember. It's soft to the point where bumps in the road send the car heaving and bounding, and the insufficiently damped body motions become irritating.And the Cruze's handling? As automotive.com online editor Jacob Brown puts it, "This car has no dynamic prowess whatsoever." The heavy chassis is happiest pointed straight, no obstructions ahead, please and thank you. To the Chevy's credit, the low-rolling-resistance Goodyears start howling way before the grip actually gives out.

Performance

We've sent a modified, 187-mph Jetta Hybrid to the Bonneville Salt Flats, and there used to be a Jetta TDI Cup spec racing series.What we're getting at is, if performance is an important criterion, you need only consider the fraternal twin Jettas. The Hybrid is the good twin, forever holding its 0.1-second lead to 60 mph over the evil twin, the six-speed manual TDI (7.9 versus 8.0 seconds). Both offer excellent powertrain response and low-end torque that begets plentiful low-end power through different means. The Hybrid utilizes a 114-lb-ft electric motor to help the turbo gas engine down low, while the TDI exploits its innately efficient 16.5:1 compression ratio. If our TDI test car had been birthed with the DSG six-speed twin-clutch automatic instead of the manual, it might've been quicker -- our old 2011 TDI long-termer needed 7.8 seconds to hit 60 mph. Strong comments were logged against the Hybrid's inconsistent brake feel. Sometimes the pedal stroked normally; other times it felt like there was a magnet drawing the pedal away from your foot.

The Cruze realized several mpg above its EPA combined figure

"Respectable" sums up the Chevrolet Cruze's performance. It'll buzz to 60 mph in a not-embarrassing 8.5 seconds, but loses time to the less powerful Jetta TDI as speeds climb. The leisurely-shifting six-speed automatic
is geared for economy and programmed
for comfort.The pokey Prius, with the slowest-in-test and dreaded double-digit 0-60-mph time of 10.1 seconds, sounds like it's persistently trying its hardest to keep up with the other four cars. Good thing its highly refined Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain feels much smoother and more responsive than the 9.8-second 0-60-mph Civic's Integrated Motor Assist setup. If there's a component on the Honda that feels like an afterthought, it's the IMA e-motor.

Efficiency

Each car showcases the muscle of automotive engineering in the pursuit of fuel economy. But how efficient are they when pitted against each other?Ranking the cars by EPA rating would put the 44-combined-mpg Civic in third. Instead, it's a fish out of water with a last-place 37 observed mpg over a 280-mile evaluation loop consisting mainly of 40-70-mph cruising with a handling section thrown in. It despises having the throttle open, tendering Prius-like acceleration without Prius levels of fuel conservation. Pairing the 1.5-liter engine with an e-motor that mechanically handcuffs itself to the crankshaft is not the prescription for ultimate efficiency. (The shut-off engine is always turning over in the limited EV Mode.) The writing is on the wall: The new Accord Hybrid's more flexible two-motor hybrid system signifies IMA is a dead end.

The rest confirm our expectations, with the mpg king Prius fighting to the top with 41.3 mpg. The 40.3-mpg Jetta Hybrid trailed the Toyota, but piloting the VW on real roads was a much less harrowing affair because it had the most total power in reserve of the five cars. This would partly explain why the Jetta is closer to its EPA combined mark than the Prius, capitalizing on its exceptional seven-speed DSG and a selectable electric-drive E-Mode that's more useful than the Prius' EV Mode. Spots 3 and 4 on the efficiency list are occupied by the 39.7-mpg Jetta TDI and 37.8-mpg Cruze. The Chevy was particularly disappointing, unable to turn its 46-highway-mpg EPA score into a meaningful advantage.

The Prius posted a sterling cost of ownership, despite having the loftiest price

As interesting as it is debating the merits of the observed fuel economies, that is a small sliver of the story. For example, the Jetta TDI and Cruze effectively demonstrate the diesel engine's inherent parsimony. The two direct competitors realized several mpg above their respective EPA combined figures, whereas the hybrids with the statistically superior ratings all performed below their EPA city estimates. Blame it on what you will: the diesel fuel that's part-for-part 15 percent richer in energy than gas, the naturally more efficient diesel engine, or our driving behavior. Plainly speaking, diesel vehicles aren't as sensitive to the significant influence of driving style as their gas-fed counterparts.Anecdotally speaking, a bit of hypermiling gamesmanship or copious amounts of slow acceleration, stoplight-to-stoplight driving might have lifted the hybrids' observed mpg into their EPA city/highway ranges.

Cockpit/Cabin

Four of the five cars have 94-cubic-foot cabins (excluding sunroofs), alleges the EPA, with the Civic being the oddball at 95 cubic feet. All offer reasonable levels of comfort and amenities, but we were much more intrigued by how each car fits drivers of various stature. Interior dimensions imply the Jettas would be the least accommodating in the front row, but our experience suggests otherwise. The VWs feel stately from behind the wheel, and the seat base is very supportive for taller drivers. The cabin layouts aren't adventurous, but they are functional, and that never goes out of style. USB ports remain conspicuously absent, but a dealer-sourced Media Device Interface adapter fixes the problem.

The Civic's most memorable cockpit attribute is its steering wheel design. We cherish its compactness and the way your hands nestle into the molded 9 and 3 o'clock grooves. The rest of the cabin is logical and visually classy, with three exceptions: (1) The graphics in the nav system and upper deck information screen look really dated. (2) The passenger-side air vents look like they were hurriedly cut into the dashboard because they'd been left off the to-do list. (3) The leather seats seemed to wear and get dirty more quickly than we'd like.If the "flying buttress" center stack survives into the next-generation Prius, it'll continue to be a point of controversy. Pros: It creates a convenient and semi-concealed storage area underneath, and the stack controls are angled toward the driver. Cons: It takes up a fair amount of space in the middle of the car, and some of the controls are a long reach. The seat bottoms are on the short end of the spectrum, a potentially irksome quality.

Boasting the eco-car company's widest body and second-longest wheelbase didn't help the Cruze. Headroom galore front and back coexists with a sense of crampedness everywhere else. The center stack tilts out enough for you to notice that the cabin isn't space-efficient, and the driver and passenger don't have to slide their seats very far before they encroach on the rear bench. While the seats are thickly cushioned, the seatbacks are on the stiff side.Since all the cars hold five people, we also became familiar with the second row.
The Cruze was tightest on legroom and, because of the space-robbing center floor hump, it was the only car that was openly hostile to a middle passenger. The Civic and Prius have mostly flat floors, and the Jettas' outboard footwells were enormous enough to mitigate the effect of their humps.

Safety

Every car here is an IIHS Top Safety Pick. However, Honda smartly did the extra-credit work to ace the IIHS' gut-check small-overlap test with a Good rating, making the Civic the sole Top Safety Pick+. The Cruze and Jettas stumbled through with Marginal grades, one step lower than the Acceptable threshold needed to earn the "+" designation. (The Prius is yet to be tested.) NHTSA assigns 5-star safety ratings to all but the 4-star Jettas.

On the active safety feature front, all come with rearview cameras except the Jetta TDI, where it's a new feature on '14 models. The Civic comes with Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning. For an additional $790, the Cruze could have benefited from the Enhanced Safety Package with Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Side Blind Zone Alert. The Prius would have to upgrade to the loaded Five model (we had a Four) with the $4320 Advanced Technology Package to gain access to adaptive cruise control, Lane Keep Assist, and Pre-Collision System.

Volkswagen's Jetta Hybrid had the most total power in reserve of the five cars

Value

Measuring the true value of value is tough, because it's an incredibly individualistic attribute. There's something about each car that could singlehandedly kill a deal. For instance, one editor declared the Jetta Hybrid's braking feel an instant deal-breaker. It didn't matter that the rest of the car was enjoyable.Eyed strictly through the lens of the almighty dollar, the $27,850 Civic appears the bargain pick, riding a big list of content, spacious interior, and solid EPA ratings. Then, all you'd have to contend with are the underwhelming driving quality and the Grinch at the steering wheel trying his hardest to achieve 44 combined mpg. A comparably equipped Cruze is $28,085, but it'd have less cabin space and lower EPA figures.

If you don't want to worry about refilling diesel exhaust fluid, the Cruze is off the table. You'd be better served with a '13-'14 Jetta TDI before selective catalytic reduction arrives on the '15 TDI engine (which should also increase its fuel efficiency). Exterior idle noise is another knock against the Chevy. Placed 10 paces directly in front of the car's nose, our trusty sound meter found the Cruze's intense idle introduced another 6.6 sones' worth of clatter over the ambient noise level. The Jetta TDI was responsible for 3.9 sones, meaning the Cruze brings 69 percent more noise to human ears.

There's always going to be the camp opposed to diesel, citing topics including regional fuel availability and cost, or the health-risk specter of diesel exhaust-spewed nanoparticulates. The anti-hybrid side sounds the alarm on subjects such as the vehicles' greater sensitivity to driving style and acceleration/speed in the fuel economy game, plus environmental implications in battery production/end of life. The decision comes down to you.

Cost of Ownership

Ideally, all five cars would be on even footing with same or equivalent features and options. This would allow IntelliChoice, our Big Test pricing research partner, to set comparable target purchase prices and 5-year costs of ownership for each contender. Although the provided COO chart is accurate for the exact cars we tested, we thought it would be of service to normalize the odd children.Our base Jetta TDI with zero options looks like the value of the year at first glance, but what if it had the same goodies as everyone else? A 2013 TDI with Premium equipment, navigation, and DSG puts the target price at $28,445 and COO at $34,409. After ticking the $795 option box for nav, the Cruze's target rises to $28,180; COO, to $35,316.The Jetta Hybrid doesn't sit pretty with the test's highest 5-year COO by a large margin, with no thanks going to depreciation and insurance totals. Switching down from the topline SEL Premium to SEL wouldn't alter the rankings. The Prius is in diametric opposition, posting a sterling COO despite having the test's loftiest target price. (And stripping it of the Plus Performance Package and $3820 Deluxe Solar Roof Package lowers the COO.) Strong repute in the secondhand market helps.The 5-year cost of ownership order is, best to worst: Prius, Civic Hybrid, Jetta TDI, Cruze Diesel, Jetta Hybrid.

Conclusion

How do we balance the different vehicular elements when settling the finishing order? Very carefully! For its narrow operational capacity, the Cruze brings up the rear of the pack. It set out to bury the Jetta TDI in engine output, highway fuel economy, and cruising mannerism, but the VW nips it in the real world where it counts.With the most ineffectual hybrid powertrain on the market, it's difficult to justify putting the cost-cognizant Civic any higher than fourth. With the right driver, 44 mpg might be a reality. We suspect there are far more "wrong" drivers out there.Wacky-expensive COO and funny brakes lock a premium-feeling car -- the Jetta Hybrid -- in third place. It oozes substance and technical quality. There's no reason to not believe this Volkswagen isn't capable of turning new hybrid fans.No driving enthusiast wants to admit the Prius is good in any way. But since it'll constantly have your back at the gas pump and is least likely to nickel-and-dime you over 5 years, it earns second place.The first-place Jetta TDI punches above its weight, delivering beyond its stated ability. It's easy to live with and always satisfying from behind the wheel. It does more with less, which ultimately is the definition of proper efficiency.

5th Place: Chevrolet Cruze Diesel

Live next to the freeway? Only ever drive on the freeway? Never have to
use the back seat? This
is your car.

4th Place: Honda Civic Hybrid

Mating any of the other four powertrains to the package would be a tremendous boost for an otherwise nicely thought-out car.

3rd Place: Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

If you disregard the brakes and mammoth depreciation and insurance costs, this one is a favorite and worth every penny.

2nd Place: Toyota Prius

The group's wizened
eco-warrior isn't as
impervious as its EPA ratings suggest. Luckily, the modified suspension makes it less bland.

1st Place: Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Note to competition: The Jetta TDI added content for '14. And a more powerful, more efficient TDI engine is due for '15.

I've owned four or five TDI's. Great to drive. Spent WAY too much repairing them. I've owned a Prius for seven years now. Had to fix it once (a wheel bearing). It has 176,000 miles, original hybrid battery, original suspension, and just did the brakes for the first time. Cost to own is unbelievably low for Prii. Cost to buy is much lower than listed here-- I just priced a new 2014, the base model, at $22,500 with 0% financing. Can't beat that, though like I said, the VW driving experience is better, and they can run on biodiesel-- which is a consideration for people who want to reduce fossil fuel use. That was the best part of owning a Passat TDI, ran it on 100% biodiesel for five years.

@jerry.mcintire@gmail.com even lower for '15 Prius Liftback TWO via Truecar: $20,840 w/ 0% TFS -- at least in SoCal. the icing though is not only Toyota build quality, but for now at least still has a J-VIN #. in my experiences w/ Hondas and Toyotas of the 80s and 90s, the built-in-japan models were solid and reliable.

im not surprised that your BIG TEST is a mess. having owner 4 vw diesels proved to me that they are bad cars,,,,,what other car couldmhave cam failures,,broken front coil springs,,,un fixable electronic controls in th engine,,,turbos burning out,,,and yes i did use the special motor oil with the zinc etc in it to protect the old skool flat tappet lifters. clutches falling apart,,,,,i know how todrive after over 3,000,000 miles wearning out 4 of my own big trucks,,,hell i had a 600 hp cummins in 1974 ,,,that was when 350 hp engines were the BIG engine,,,hehe,,,,,last sunday i drove from norwich N.Y. to maybrook ny,,,it was all 55 mph on cruise control,,,om rt 17 i set it at 60 mph. the lie meter showed 55 mph. i toped off the tank at the hess station in maybrook and it figured right at 55 mpg. that is a real world test for somone looking fir an economy car.........none of my vws would get near that except for the 02 diesel bug. the cruse handles fery nic and corners just as good as the vws and has very good brakes,,,for normal driving there is no body roll and no bounce,,,i do admit that the vws ad a little more "refined" ride but im much happier with it than any car i have owned in it last30 years....i hade 427 fords,,,427 ford 427 cohc ,,,talk about unbileable power !,,,,the cammers were un-Godly powerful. as far as engines go i have been led to belive the cruse diesel was designed by fiat and built by bmw,,,,i have to listen very closly to hear it is a disel and then only when it is ideling,,,,absolutly slilent when driving it and it has gobs more power that my vw diesels. and i can fly an airplane,,,i had a 450 hp pratt and whitney powered stearman bi-plane that i got my ticket in and flew it for 500 howers over 10 years,,,talk about noise and fuel consumtion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diesel cars are a love it or hate it experience. Hybrids even more so. The 2013 Jetta sportwagen TDI with DSG trans is an amazing car. The torque is awesome and the driving dynamics far superior than any of the other cars. I never really bothered to do the math regarding which car is cheaper, gets best mileage or reliability. It's all about the driving experience. Think of it this way. If you were to buy a luxury car, something in a tune of $70,000 and above, would you buy a hybrid? If you spent that kind of money what's the difference what kind of mpg it gets. You simply can afford to own it and the reason why you bought it is for the driving experience. Well, it is the same here for me, only difference is the price for the car is under $30,000. The TDI is the most fun to drive and as a bonus it gets decent mpg to go along. Hey, it is not a sports car. It never meant to be. It's a family car well thought out with minimal gadgets and driver correction electronics. This car actually lets you engage your driving skills without interference. As for gadgets...one of you gentlemen said it best. Anything you get will be outdated fast and makes repairs more expensive and complicated. If you want luxury appointments or video game like electronics, this is not the car for you. Simply said, I love it for what it is, it does what it said it would very well. Thanks for reading

For the record on reliability, my 2001Jetta TDI purchased new ran for 440,000 miles and was still pulling 45 mpg average per tank. It was on the 5th timing belt, 2nd turbocharger and 2nd clutch, 2nd heater, etc. The body was in good shape, and the motor still ran strong but a combination of repairs finally made the average monthly cost of repair approach the price of a new car. The high mileage per tank was 53.5 mpg. The cost per mile (of fuel only, not repairs or maintenance) was around 11 to 13 cents depending on the price of fuel. Even with the repairs I am satisfied that I got what I needed from the car and traded it in for a new TDI. I once drove the car from WI to Sterling, CO on one tank of fuel.

That said, a friend of mine has 100,000 on his prius and is very happy with his car too.

i have been shopping "hard" the vw tdi, cruze diesel, and prius. the vw tdi jetta, manual quoted at $25,400 (inc 1000 for auto dsg) same as this review "intellichoice"; but the cruze diesel with auto, backup cam is $22,300, or $4,800 lower than the intellichoice price; the prius quote is $28,300 or $8000 lower. these are real quotes in writing! its a fact that the stated depreciation values are weighted, and WRONG, i haven't priced the vw or honda hybrids. these actual cost reduce the dep. by at least $2500 for the cruse, and $3 to $4,000 on the prius.

I have read the article and I don't know how you can get 37 mpg in a Civic Hybrid. I have a 2012 Honda Civic. I bought it new in 2012 for $22,000. My worst tank has been 44 mpg. I average ~48 mpg in the winter and ~55 mpg in the summer driving in stop and go traffic. My best tank is 60 mpg so far. I drive the speed limit, but drive the car to get the best mpg. Last summer 5 people with a full trunk drove a 12 hour drive at the 70 mph and averaged ~50 mpg. The 2012 version does not have the best looking dash and the seat covers have a weird pattern.

I will say that I do not believe there a lot of owners of the 2011 and earlier are not repeat buyers. There was a lot of battery issues with the older Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries and a class action lawsuit. I have not heard of any issues with the Lithium Ion Batteries in the 2012 and later cars.

One recommendation for getting better mileage - if that is your thing is to purchase a scan gauge so that you can see the instantaneous mileage and throttle position.

In summary, the Honda Civic Hybrid Rocks if you will learn how to drive it to get good gas mileage. Also, it does not look like a Prius.

I own a 2013 Jetta TDI Premium plus Nav and I LOVE it! It gives me amazing MPG when I manage it on longer trips but can push it and use either the Tiptronic or Sport mode and that turbo kicks in and it flies! Best of both worlds. For the price MSRP $29,000 could have had a Kia Forte or Ford Focus with more options (Soft touch dash, HID headlights, cooled seats, etc) but as soon as I drove the TDI I fell in love with the driving experience! That is key, options come and go and you never have what the next year's model has, but fun to drive car will last a long time!

Is it wrong that I take a savage pleasure in getting the worst fuel economy I can manage when driving my friend's Prius? (Since I've become a regular driver, the average fuel economy meter has been progressively dropping. It's down from 48 mpg to 41.7 mpg. We'll see what it is when I get back in January 4/5 for our return to UCF.

The torque provided by the diesel engines is enough to make them my first choice. Try loading 4 adults and luggage into these cars and then see what the fuel economy becomes. This is where you would see a noticeable difference between gas and diesel as the gas engine will be hunting through the rpm range for power and a diesel will sit in top gear and rely on its torque.

VW typically has aggressive pricing at the dealership level. You can get TDI's for invoice or close too it in most cases. I've seen loaded DSG Jetta TDI Sport Wagons, the most expensive version going for under $30K even with split moonroof.

I want to like the Cruze Diesel. Some of the European bits can be bought of course but I also think some more aggressive suspension pieces are available from GMPP (GM Performance Parts).

The "tuner" culture has reached the Pirus and your starting to see more with lower suspensions and 17-18-19" wheels. Its still a bit too boring to drive, despite being the mileage king, especially if you do more 50/50 driving.

It sounds like GM may have decided the Cruze diesel should compete only on economy, which would be a big mistake. My only experience with it was in Italy (while helping my father-in-law trade his Chevy Matiz for new Spark) and the 163 hp. diesel was the only engine in the top-line Cruze, and the 6-manual the only trans. It had good summer tires, well tuned suspension, and I can only think the US spec. diesel Cruze just isn't set up to handle and drive anywhere near it's potential.

@heyfred3000 They always miss-fire on these sorts of things because automotive journalist are also car people and overall thinking is more in-line with Europeans than with typical American, which is why its easy for them to praise German and Italian cars.

Even the cheapest econ-box in Europe has sporty suspension and likely as something to do with the narrower, twistier roads over there.

Americans are overweight as a whole and when traveling distances spend there time with the CC on chugging down the freeway/hwy/toll road. So the "wallowing" handling they are less likely to notice, the typical buyer of this kind of car and are unlikely cross shopping it vs the Jetta.

I own an '11 Jetta TDI, This article confirms what I already enjoy about diesels, but I was disappointed to see how the Chevy stacked up. I want to see diesel availability increase, but I'm afraid that won't happen unless more and bigger players get in the diesel game. I'm afraid that Chevy won't invest further if they don't get a winner on their first try at re-entry.

Jetta D v's Prius in a taxi working enviroment - I wonder which would win then ? I drive 60miles roundtrip (highway) to 'work', then 40 (city) miles at 'work' . Other drivers report 55 mpg from the Prius v's 40 mpg from the Jettas, which is correct ?

I recently purchased a 2013 VW TDI w/ Premium (6 speed manual) for under $25k and am getting an average of 44 mpg by hand and that is with it being brand new and not broken in. I do however live in the country and drive 90% highway all the time. I bought my car for the great mpg and because I have a 100 mile round-trip commute to work everyday.. It also is extremely roomy; my 6'4" boyfriend actually needs to scoot the drivers seat up to push the clutch in all the way. The trunk is also HUGE. I search around and did a lot of research before buying it and could not find a "better bang for my buck," I love it!

@TDI LoverI purchased a '13 Jetta TDI and totally agree! I am 6'1 and have plenty of room with plenty still in the back seat. Previous car was a 2009 Jeep GC and had much less room in the back. Trunk def=huge! I have the 6 speed auto but still huge torque!

@Sean McDonald You cannot generalize about a car company like that, especially when you base your assessment on an 'old' car. I've owned cars from Ford and BMW. Both had mechanical and electrical problems, but both were still good cars. I would never label either company a 'lousy manufacturer'. There will always be instances where a particular car has issues. It's a fact of life. We've owned several VWs, over many years and have not had any mechanical or electrical issues. Does that mean there won't be a potential problem in the future? Of course not. But I think VW does not deserve the reputation is seems to have for poor quality. If you haven't driven a VW lately, especially on with the 2.0 diesel, 1.8T or 2.0T, you should go do that. You might just be surprised how well these cars drive.

@Sean McDonald Sorry to hear about your experience. Sounds like things went really wrong with your GTI. Probably an isolated case. Reminds me of what we experienced with our BMW 3-Series. That car was back at the dealer so many times, that I lost count. Still, we kept it since it was great driver's car. The Mustang I used to have was similar. When the Ford dealer couldn't fix it, I found a local repair shop that could solve the electrical problem. Then I traded it in on a Honda, which also had mechanical issues, by the way, but it was a fantastic car overall. Bottom line, any car can have issues, and you can decide whatever you want regarding different car manufacturers and your future personal vehicle choices, but that still doesn't make a certain car manufacturer lousy.

In 2001 I bought a new GTI. It was an electrical nightmare and spent more time in the garage than on the road. It was without question the worst car I ever owned. And VW did not stand behind their product either. Lousy car lousy manufacturer.

As I stated in the beginning of my post the car was brand new when I bought it. It the course of 30,000 miles it blew a headlight at least 6 times, tail lights monthly, both power windows shorted out, the ignition system that controls the electrical flow to the spark plugs went, the the thermostat went and the catalytic converter died. The car was a lemon. Oh and an electrical short caused the entire interior lighting system for the radio, hvac, and speedometer area to stop working as well. In 2001 the warranty expired at 24,000 miles and I got stuck with most of the repair expenses and both the dealership and VW America refused to provide loaner cars or rentals while the car was undriveable, which usually was for at least two to three days while we waited on parts. I asked VW America twice to replace the car as it was a lemon, they refused. I have nothing good to say about Volkswagen given my experience and I do not appreciate your attempt to school me about what constitutes a good car. It wasn't and I traded it with only 30,000 miles on it for a Honda that was far better made.

No Sir - it was 1985 VW Sirocco - OMG what a horrible car. I owned a 1979 and 1980 Sirocco and they were both amazing vehicles. The quality quickly went down hill from there. Moving foward - there's no way VW can compete with Toyota - they are worlds apart.

I've never really liked any of these cars, with the exception of the Jettas. I think Honda's Hybrid system is quite outdated, but the coming DCT hybrid system premiered in the Japanese Fit Hybrid will change that and make it, actually, a first in the industry (not because of the DCT but the way it is connected to both engines).

A Prius costs significantly more than a Jetta TDI (which is a couple grand more than a Golf TDI). Edmunds shows about a $2K difference for a mid-range 2013 Prius vs. a mid-range 2013 Jetta TDI - around $27K vs. $25K.

@nellar@dfschim@960GLE Comparing apples to apples, a Prius II costs $24,200, a Golf TDI with DSG costs $26,300 while a Jetta Sport Wagon with DSG costs $27,350. The Golf still has a small trunk, to get the utility of the Prius in a VW requires the Jetta Sport Wagon.

@dfschim@nellar@960GLE "Utility of the Prius" sounds like an oxymoron to me. Yes, the SportWagen has a large trunk and actually more interior room than many mid-sized SUVs. But the Golf also has a good sized trunk and is quite versatile. It is the family car-of-choice for many in Europe. If the Golf VII were available today, we would consider buying one.

@TDI10@dfschim@nellar@960GLE This is true you see more VW Golf 5 Doors than 2 Doors at least when I was in Germany. However it is a premium compact car in Europe so if you can't afford it and still want the drivetrain, people will opt for a SEAT or Skoda. In fact the sporter between the SEAT Leon TDI and Gold GTD, the SEAT wins hands down and the Skoda Fabia TDI is cool little car as well, that's more value for money than the Polo GTI....

@nellar@dfschim@960GLE I don't know where you get your info from, but the Jetta costs LESS than the Golf. The Jetta is made in Mexico and the Golf in Germany. The base TDI '14 Golf is $26,xxx, and the Jetta~$24,xxx.

@960GLE It is not the cost of the fluid, it is the cost of the system. The more emission controls needed on the Diesels, the more the cost rises, and they already cost more than hybrids. The cost of electronics is one of the few things going down, so the cost of manufacturing hybrids goes down.

@TDI10@TB6MT@car_enthusiast and all of you other Diesel fans thinking the same thing about hybrids only being better in the city, the Prius beat the Jetta in a test that was mostly highway miles at speeds of 40-70 mph. That means for the vast majority of commuters, the Prius will get better fuel economy. Sure, if you drive at night at a constant 70 mph the TDI may come out better, but that isn't commuting mileage for anyone who drives at rush hour, that is low traffic highway mileage. The TDI won the comparison on acceleration, it lost the fuel economy portion. Yes, the Jetta is being upgraded and will do a little better, but it will need urea injection raising the cost even further. The next Prius is coming out at the same time and will feature better fuel economy, acceleration and handling.

@dfschim@car_enthusiast Eh. Firstly the Prius will always do better in the city. That said without any hyper-miling tricks, getting much more than 500 miles of a tank is nearly impossible. You can easily get 600-700 miles out of the TDI or Cruze Diesel, its been done, time and time and time again.

Plus if your tinkerer like me, then you can't leave well enough alone. I would pick the Jetta Hybrid because its turbocharged and turbo cars can be always made to go faster. If you back off the go pedal fuel economy is the same anyway. You can easily increase power by 20hp/30ft of torque with just a PCM flash (Upsolute and several others).

The story is the same with the Jetta. One in Europe does 12's in the 1/4 and still gets 40+ MPG. Nobody has gone that far with the North American Jetta, but some people have "chipped" theirs and the numbers are repeatable - 177hp/290ft of torque AT THE WHEELS.

@nellar@dfschim@car_enthusiast I read the article, they had the Prius 2nd in the overall ratings ahead of the Jetta hybrid. The Prius won the fuel economy portion that was conducted mostly at highway speeds of 40-70 mph. Yet many of the Diesel fans ignore that in their posts.

Because when I am focused on fuel mileage that's one thing, but when I don't care so much about fuel economy, I want it to be there. I did not spend all my time in boost with my SRT-4, why should I do that with a TDI or the Jetta Hybrid?

Some of us don't buy cars for fuel economy only; those people honestly should be taking public transportation. I enjoy driving and racing my cars.

@Anthony - Keeps it 100@dfschim Public transportation doesn't stop in people's driveways, and people don't have to sit next to drunks, foul mouthed people, people who just smoked, people talking on cell phones etc. when they are driving their own cars. In short, freight belongs on trains, people who can drive belong in cars.

If a want an economy car I will go with a Prius, if I want a fast VW I will go with a GTI. Given its cost, the TDI doesn't excel at being either.

I have driven a TDI, but not one of the new "clean" ones, my brother owned a 2002. The new one isn't as quick as a 4 cylinder Camry, which means it is just another economy car.

Several people have mentioned it comes with a 6 speed manual. Good to hear VW figured out how to make a good one, I remember getting stranded by a first generation Rabbit when the shifter linkage fell apart. Since the DSG gets exactly the same mileage as the manual and shifts quicker, the only reason to get the manual is for nostalgia. Neither I nor my knee have any good nostalgia for manual transmissions. With the state of dual clutch and automatic transmissions today, the manual with a third pedal is just another distraction from driving, and it keeps people from keeping both hands on the wheel.

@dfschim Most people on this side of the Atlantic prefer automatics, and the modern ones do shift quickly and get great fuel economy. Great. It is nice that technology has improved. We do not drive a manual for nostalgia. We enjoy having one of our cars with a great manual transmission, and it is not a distraction in any way. If we were doing only city driving, I could see where a manual would be impractical. I can certainly understand why many people don't like manuals, but we're happy to be among those few who enjoy driving a car and shifting gears without paddle shifter or having the car in 'D'.

@dfschimThere are more reasons than that to NOT get a DSG. They're expensive to maintain, start harder in the winter (due to transmission drag) and have a dual clutch system that is not all that durable.

@Charles Purvis@dfschim 06 TDI with 6 speed DSG, 165,000 miles, not expensive to maintain, starts without any issues on my coldest day of -15 F and totally reliable never had a problem and would buy another in a heartbeat....